NILS GRÖNDAHL

Danish-German Nils Gröndahl operates at the intersection of precision and collapse, where the violin is pushed far beyond its classical frame. Based in Copenhagen, Gröndahl is widely recognised for his long-standing role in the internationally renowned Danish band Under Byen, but his presence in the Danish underground extends far beyond any single project. Alongside his solo work, he has collaborated extensively with artists and bands including Kellermensch, Broken Twin, Jacob Bellens, MØ, Iceage, Bisse, Baby in Vain, Shiny Darkly, and ORM, forming a connective thread across a wide range of musical contexts. His solo practice is documented on releases such as 1/3 (2020) and the EP Du Läufst Zu Schnell (2021), which foreground a raw and exposed approach to sound.

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Gröndahl’s method centres on the violin as both material and resistance. Through extended techniques, pedals, and electronics, bowed tones are stretched, smeared, and fractured into long-form structures where drone, noise, and melody coexist without hierarchy. The music often circles itself, favouring patience and friction over development, and allowing small shifts in texture to carry weight. Rather than treating electronics as decoration, Gröndahl folds them directly into the instrument, creating a sound that feels fragile and abrasive at once, suspended between control and disintegration.

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WHAT TO EXPECT
A Nils Gröndahl performance unfolds with quiet intensity and sustained focus. Bowed strings, feedback, and electronics accumulate gradually, forming dense, tactile layers that draw attention to duration and detail rather than momentum. The set holds its ground throughout, allowing pressure and subtle change to shape the experience from within.